Throughout the film Billy Elliot, the protagonist Billy is faced with enormous obstacles with which he must overcome in order to live up to his dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. He is presented with opposition from his family, society in general and from within himself regarding stereotypes and masculinity, which he eventually conquers with help from those close to him. Billy must also beat perceptions forced on him because his family is working-class in order to truly discover his own persona and be happy in life.

One of the most substantial hindrance Billy faces when trying to live his dreams is his own prejudices against himself. As with anyone, Billy is strongly affected by the views and values of those around him, and this made evident in the young boy's opinions on masculinity. Although Billy eventually accepts his own willingness to dance as not being a `right...